> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/theOehrly/Fast-F1/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Session API

> Reference for FastF1 Session class - load and access session data

The Session class is the primary interface for accessing Formula 1 session data including lap times, telemetry, weather, and results.

## Session

Object for accessing session specific data.

**Constructor:**

<ParamField path="event" type="Event" required>
  Reference to the associated Event object
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="session_name" type="str" required>
  Name of this session (e.g., 'Qualifying', 'Race', 'FP1')
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="f1_api_support" type="bool" default="False">
  Whether the official F1 API supports this event
</ParamField>

<Note>
  Sessions are usually created using `fastf1.get_session()` rather than instantiating directly.
</Note>

***

## Properties

### event

<ResponseField name="type" type="Event">
  Reference to the associated Event object
</ResponseField>

### name

<ResponseField name="type" type="str">
  Name of this session (e.g., 'Qualifying', 'Race', 'FP1')
</ResponseField>

### date

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.Timestamp">
  Date at which this session took place
</ResponseField>

### drivers

<ResponseField name="type" type="list">
  List of all driver numbers (as strings) that participated in this session. Available after calling `load()`.
</ResponseField>

### results

<ResponseField name="type" type="SessionResults">
  Session results with driver information. Available after calling `load()`.
</ResponseField>

### laps

<ResponseField name="type" type="Laps">
  All laps from all drivers in this session. Available after calling `load()` with `laps=True`.
</ResponseField>

### car\_data

<ResponseField name="type" type="dict">
  Dictionary of car telemetry (Speed, RPM, etc.) keyed by driver number (string). Each value is a Telemetry object. Available after calling `load()` with `telemetry=True`.
</ResponseField>

### pos\_data

<ResponseField name="type" type="dict">
  Dictionary of car position data (X, Y, Z coordinates) keyed by driver number (string). Each value is a Telemetry object. Available after calling `load()` with `telemetry=True`.
</ResponseField>

### weather\_data

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.DataFrame">
  DataFrame containing weather data for this session. Available after calling `load()` with `weather=True`.
</ResponseField>

### session\_status

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.DataFrame">
  Session status data (Started, Finished, Aborted). Available after calling `load()` with `laps=True`.
</ResponseField>

### track\_status

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.DataFrame">
  Track status data (yellow flags, red flags, etc.). Available after calling `load()` with `laps=True`.
</ResponseField>

### race\_control\_messages

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.DataFrame">
  Race control messages for this session. Available after calling `load()` with `messages=True`.
</ResponseField>

### session\_info

<ResponseField name="type" type="dict">
  Session information including meeting, session, country and circuit names and unique identifier keys.
</ResponseField>

### total\_laps

<ResponseField name="type" type="int | None">
  Originally scheduled number of laps for race-like sessions. Available after calling `load()` with `laps=True`.
</ResponseField>

### t0\_date

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.Timestamp">
  Date timestamp marking the beginning of the data stream (when session time is zero). Available after calling `load()` with `telemetry=True`.
</ResponseField>

### session\_start\_time

<ResponseField name="type" type="pd.Timedelta">
  Session time at which the session was started. Available after calling `load()` with `laps=True`.
</ResponseField>

***

## Methods

### load()

Load session data from the supported APIs.

<ParamField path="laps" type="bool" default="True">
  Load laps and session status data
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="telemetry" type="bool" default="True">
  Load telemetry data (car\_data and pos\_data)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="weather" type="bool" default="True">
  Load weather data
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="messages" type="bool" default="True">
  Load race control messages
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="livedata" type="LiveTimingData | None" default="None">
  Optional locally saved livetiming data to use as data source instead of API
</ParamField>

<Note>
  Without specifying any options, all data is loaded by default. Loading all data is recommended as FastF1 uses data from multiple sources to provide the most accurate results.
</Note>

**Example:**

```python theme={null}
import fastf1

# Load all data (default)
session = fastf1.get_session(2023, 'Monaco', 'Race')
session.load()

# Load only specific data
session = fastf1.get_session(2023, 'Monaco', 'Q')
session.load(laps=True, telemetry=False, weather=False, messages=False)
```

***

### get\_driver()

Get a DriverResult object containing information about a specific driver.

<ParamField path="identifier" type="str" required>
  Driver's three letter identifier (e.g., 'VER') or driver number as string
</ParamField>

<ResponseField name="return" type="DriverResult">
  DriverResult object with driver information
</ResponseField>

**Example:**

```python theme={null}
session = fastf1.get_session(2023, 'Monaco', 'Race')
session.load()

# Get driver by abbreviation
ver = session.get_driver('VER')
print(ver['FullName'])  # 'Max Verstappen'

# Get driver by number
ham = session.get_driver('44')
print(ham['TeamName'])  # 'Mercedes'
```

***

### get\_circuit\_info()

Returns additional information about the circuit hosting this event.

<ResponseField name="return" type="CircuitInfo | None">
  CircuitInfo object with corner locations, marshal lights, marshal sectors, and track map rotation. Returns None if information is unavailable.
</ResponseField>

<Note>
  The circuit information is manually created and not highly accurate, but it's useful for annotating data visualizations.
</Note>

**Example:**

```python theme={null}
session = fastf1.get_session(2023, 'Monaco', 'Race')
session.load()

circuit_info = session.get_circuit_info()
print(circuit_info.corners)
```

***

## Complete Usage Example

```python theme={null}
import fastf1
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# Get and load a session
session = fastf1.get_session(2023, 'Monaco', 'Race')
session.load()

# Access session properties
print(f"Session: {session.event.EventName} - {session.name}")
print(f"Date: {session.date}")
print(f"Drivers: {session.drivers}")

# Access results
results = session.results
print(results[['Position', 'Abbreviation', 'TeamName']])

# Access laps
laps = session.laps
fastest_lap = laps.pick_fastest()
print(f"Fastest lap: {fastest_lap['LapTime']}")

# Access telemetry
ver_laps = laps.pick_drivers('VER')
ver_fastest = ver_laps.pick_fastest()
ver_tel = ver_fastest.get_telemetry()

# Plot speed
plt.plot(ver_tel['Distance'], ver_tel['Speed'])
plt.xlabel('Distance (m)')
plt.ylabel('Speed (km/h)')
plt.title('Verstappen Fastest Lap - Speed Trace')
plt.show()

# Access weather data
weather = session.weather_data
print(weather[['Time', 'AirTemp', 'TrackTemp', 'Rainfall']])

# Access race control messages
messages = session.race_control_messages
print(messages[['Time', 'Category', 'Message']])
```